System and method for publishing, distributing and redeeming coupons on a network

Abstract

A system and method publish, distribute and redeem coupons on a network system. The system and method utilize a merchant server and a commerce server. The merchant server provides the merchant the ability to transmit requests to create a coupon, and transmit coupon data regarding the coupon creation. The commerce server receives the requests to create a coupon, and receives the coupon creation data. The commerce server saves the coupon data to a coupon database, and provides access to the coupon to customers on the network. A merchant server further provides the merchant the ability to receive a request for purchasing an item, and a request for redeeming a coupon for that purchase from a consumer. The merchant server verifies the coupon is a valid coupon, and allows the coupon to be redeemed in the purchase of the item if the coupon is valid. The merchant server upon redemption of the coupon, updates a coupon database to record that the coupon has been redeemed by the customer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for publishing and distributing coupons on a network system, the method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a request to create a coupon;    receiving coupon data for said coupon;    saving said coupon data to a database; and    providing access on said network to said coupon by a customer.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing said access further includes the step of: 
 linking said coupon to a world wide web page.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of linking said linking said coupon to a internet web page further includes the step of: 
 utilizing an uniform resource locator to link said coupon to a world wide web page.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing said access further includes the step of: 
 providing for an ability of said customer to search said coupon database.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of providing for an ability of said customer to search said coupon database further includes the step of: 
 enabling said customer to search said coupon database by a coupon characteristic, wherein said coupon characteristic is selected from a group consisting of a product name, a product identification number, a product category, a coupon expiration date, a vendor name, or a vendor identification number.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing said access further includes the step of: 
 providing for an ability of said customer to store said coupon data on a customer device.    
     
     
         7 . A method for redeeming coupons during an purchase using a merchant server on a network system, the method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a request for purchasing an item from a consumer;    receiving a request for redeeming a coupon for said purchase of said item from said consumer;    verifying said coupon is a valid coupon;    allowing said coupon to be redeemed in said purchase of said item if said coupon is a valid coupon; and    updating a coupon database to record that said coupon has been redeemed by said customer.    
     
     
         8 . A commerce system for publishing and distributing coupons on a network system, comprising: 
 means for receiving a request to create a coupon from a vendor;    means for receiving coupon data for said coupon from said vendor;    means for saving said coupon data to a database; and    means for providing access to said coupon by a customer on said network.    
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said providing means further comprises: 
 means for linking said coupon to a world wide web page.    
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said linking means further comprises: 
 means for utilizing an uniform resource locator to link said coupon to a world wide web page.    
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said providing means further comprises: 
 means for providing for an ability of said customer to search said coupon database.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said search providing means further comprises: 
 means for enabling said customer to search said coupon database by a coupon characteristic, wherein said coupon characteristic is selected from a group consisting of a product name, a product identification number, a product category, a coupon expiration date, a vendor name, or a vendor identification number.    
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said providing means further comprises: 
 means for providing for an ability of said customer to store said coupon data on a customer device.    
     
     
         14 . A merchant server on a network system for redeeming coupons during a purchase, said merchant server comprising: 
 means for receiving a request for purchasing an item from a consumer;    means for receiving a request for redeeming a coupon for said purchase of said item from said consumer;    means for verifying said coupon is a valid coupon;    means for allowing said coupon to be redeemed in said purchase of said item if said coupon is a valid coupon; and    means for updating a coupon database to record that said coupon has been redeemed by said customer.    
     
     
         15 . A computer system for publishing and distributing coupons on a network system, comprising: 
 a merchant server that transmits request to create a coupon and transmits coupon data regarding said coupon; and    a commerce server that receives said request to create a coupon, receives said coupon data regarding said coupon, saves said coupon data to a coupon database, and provides access to a customer on said network to said coupon.    
     
     
         16 . The commerce server of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a first commerce mechanism for linking said coupon to a world wide web page.    
     
     
         17 . The commerce server of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a second commerce mechanism providing for an uniform resource locator to link said coupon to a world wide web page.    
     
     
         18 . The commerce server of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a third commerce mechanism providing for an ability of said customer to search said coupon database.    
     
     
         19 . The commerce server of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a fourth commerce mechanism enabling said customer to search said coupon database by a coupon characteristic, wherein said coupon characteristic is selected from a group consisting of a product name, a product identification number, a product category, a coupon expiration date, a vendor name, or a vendor identification number.    
     
     
         20 . The commerce server of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a fifth commerce mechanism providing for an ability of said customer to store said coupon data on a customer device.    
     
     
         21 . A merchant server on a network system for redeeming coupons during a purchase, said merchant server comprising: 
 a first merchant mechanism for receiving a request for purchasing an item from a consumer;    a second merchant mechanism for receiving a request for redeeming a coupon for said purchase of said item from said consumer;    a third merchant mechanism for verifying said coupon is a valid coupon;    a fourth merchant mechanism for allowing said coupon to be redeemed in said purchase of said item if said coupon is a valid coupon; and    a fifth merchant mechanism for updating a coupon database to record that said coupon has been redeemed by said customer.